The Scottish Police Authority approved the Forensic Strategy 2021-26 on 29 September 2021. This followed extensive consultation with staff and stakeholders. The strategy provides a clear vision for continuing to provide excellent forensic services at the cutting edge. It is a vision for:
- being sustainable
- providing value for money as a public service
- maintaining and enhancing public trust and confidence
- building on our successful operating model.
Four strategic outcomes
Our strategy is framed around four strategic outcomes showing the impact we aim to have, and the forensic service we want to be in the future:
- Our people are supported through a positive working environment, enabling them to provide excellent forensic services.
- Forensic Services are sustainable, adaptable and prepared for future challenges.
- We deliver high quality, ethical services; and lead in order to advance forensic science.
- We work collaboratively with partners to serve the needs of the public and criminal justice in Scotland.
Three phases
The Forensic Strategy will cover a five-year period. This period will have three phases.
Phase 1 – implementation of the Target Operating Model
Phase 2 – developing our infrastructure and partnership arrangements
Phase 3 – embedding sustainability and leading advances in science
We will build on the significant progress made as we implemented our Forensic 2026 Strategy: Scientific Excellence for Safer Communities; that outlined the importance of keeping focus on providing impartial evidence based on excellent science, to prevent, detect and investigate crime and non-crime incidents. Our new Operating Model will also transform our service to Local Policing, especially in relation to volume crime.
